Michelle Alexander on the War on Drugs and the Politics Behind It

[@killalavilla]

As a white guy from the South who is in recovery and involved in providing treatment for addicts, often poor, black and attempting to exit the criminal justice system, I celebrate this lecture. It offers great sociological insight.

[@bankslinda63]

Thanks you Michelle Alexander, for opening our eyes to what is really going on in our Society. Not enough of our People are getting the messages.

[@ClassicTV4U]

I don't think that "most Americans violate drug laws in their lifetimes" (minus 10 cool points right off gate)...but this book IS much needed. @RozMW--only YOU can take care of YOU; the problem is helped by YOU keeping out of the judicial system (even traffic tickets),YOU teaching your children (if you are a parent) about the racial prejudices that exists in this country, YOU paying your bills, being responsible, etc. Racism and preoccupation w/skin color is USA's #1 problem;awareness is power.

[@roger8654]

I still believe though that people should be responsible for fixing their own lives and not blame others.

[@jazzvixon]

Oh my goodness ! Are u one of the original black panthers? If u r i really appreciate your work n wisdom. You' ve been in this fight for soo long. I love you sister n wish you prosperity in every part of your life. God bless you

[@armonviramontes3431]

This women speaks about this from a distance. She is a academic. I would like to see her live in the hood then come back and give a speech on the war on drugs.

[@surambaya]

+Armon Viramontes What has that got to do with anything? That is probably the silliest thing I have read all year and we not even half-way through - 100% certain I will not read or hear anything sillier.

[@DNice-ni2nt]

Really though? You don't realize how dumb a comment this is.

[@Stefanjrjullian]

Thank you.

[@slittlejohnjr]

I have her book (The New Jim Crow) on this subject. She is 100% on point.

[@slittlejohnjr]

+Rick Jones While you're yawning Mr. Racist, despite White Supremacy and Privilege there is a sharp increase in middle aged whites killing themselves with drugs, alcohol and suicide. What's the deal? www.washingtonpost.com/national/health-science/a-group-of-middle-aged-american-whites-is-dying-at-a-startling-rate/2015/11/02/47a63098-8172-11e5-8ba6-cec48b74b2a7_story.html

[@AClarionCallMinistry]

Great presentation, very informative... I will have to buy her book.

[@seriousone8229]

Excerpt from the article: “We were jumping on guys in the middle of the night, all of that. Swooping down on folks all across the country, using these sorts of attack tactics that we went out on, that you would use in Vietnam, or some kind of war-torn zone. All of the stuff that we were doing, just calling it the war on drugs. And there wasn’t very many black guys in my position. So when I would go into the war room, where we were setting up all of our drug and gun and addiction task force determining what cities we were going to hit, I would notice that most of the time it always appeared to be urban areas. That’s when I asked the question, well, don’t they sell drugs out in Potomac and Springfield, and places like that? Maybe you all think they don’t, but statistics show they use more drugs out in those areas than anywhere. The special agent in charge, he says ‘You know, if we go out there and start messing with those folks, they know judges, they know lawyers, they know politicians. You start locking their kids up; somebody’s going to jerk our chain.’ He said, ‘they’re going to call us on it, and before you know it, they’re going to shut us down, and there goes your overtime.'” www.dailykos.com/story/2015/08/19/1413569/-Former-U-S-Marshal-and-DEA-agent-was-told-not-to-enforce-drug-laws-in-white-areas?detail=email

[@billygibbs9866]

Yes!!!

[@zulemazahir666]

Having a mere possession of drugs for personal use needs to be decriminalized in general. If an addict robs someone or breaks a law like that to support their addiction, of course they should be charged. Being just an addict alone though, shouldn't be a crime. That's like criminalizing someone for simply being mentally ill. This is an excellent speech and while people of color being profiled is a serious problem, I wish we would include all other addicts and/or poor people and mentally ill people. Just my opinion though and I'm so glad I learned of this woman today.

[@jazzvixon]

Love this! Michelle alexander is soo informative.

[@510Mrniceguy]

Awesome video.... She killed it!! 100% on point! Now watch all the white people get mad😂

[@Helloworld1421]

I ain't mad at all....Like you said, she's on point all the way. To deny these truths would be ignorant, which there is a ton of in America:-(

[@armonviramontes3431]

The difference is found within the action that is exhibited between the two races.

[@takepartlive]

Young people needs to try and vote more!

[@jimmymags6516]

Yes vote for the tea party

[@antbryant1]

wow so very informative* Thank you Michelle for speaking up and educating on truth. I have a brother who is dealing with this and I only recently was opened into the injustice of this crime by our government. It is infuriating and also very sad to me. I want to help-

[@wolfmaterial]

& when you think you are the only one thinking... youtube provs you wrong... yessss darlingggg x

[@TitaniumAfro]

Brilliant!!!

[@javidhaymes2483]

i love this woman.. she speaks the truth and the truth will be heard , i hope NOW rather than ANOTHER DAY...God i hope......

[@GhostraceKillah]

The new JIm Crow is Willie Lynch.

[@zygi22]

Very intelligent woman.

[@SaNiTyWoRd]

Yes I agree on the spectrum of race and oppression, but if that was not ur point ... please make your point clear, as I am now intrigued to know it.

[@cmebans35]

Great presentation. Sad reality Today, it has taken a total different approach. Please research #telemedicine #TargetedIndividuals #gangstalking Directed energy weapons (electronic drug delivery)

[@waffiki]

yes, unite or perish. we are on Gods side and they are on the dark side. So help us God.

[@LouderIsLove]

okay first off a "poor" person and a "black" person are not the same. Being black doesnt mean you are poor and being white doesnt mean you are rich

[@martymakeupartist]

The fact that she is an "academic" is a bullshit response to her not being "fit" to talk about the subject. She is a black woman, she is shedding light on an otherwise dismal situation. P.S. you do not know her experience so therefore should not generalize as you would not liked to be generalized. It is like telling someone they are not brown enough or black enough. It is Stuppppiddddddd

[@Thisistheday3]

+martymakeupartist Well said my friend!!!

[@martymakeupartist]

thanks friend!

[@tnshodges]

Me too

[@jazzvixon]

Everyone primarily involved n effected must take responsibility. The black community have to protect themselves to prevent continuous exploitation. I pretty much agree with your point. The thing is that the black community is being attacked at every angle by a variety of nations( europe, middle east, u.s, the orient etc) for our valuable resources ( black people, our art, sciences n our land africa, which is the richest land on this earth)

[@earthie48johnson73]

1ST OF ALL MICHELLE, WHY DID BLACKS ALLOW IT IN THEIR COMMUNITIES? WHEN WE ANSWER THIS QUESTION, THEN WE CAN SOLVE THIS HORRIBLE PROBLEM!

[@Thisistheday3]

+earthie48 Johnson urbanintellectuals.com/2016/01/25/former-newspaper-journalist-proves-flooding-black-areas-drugs-illegal-war-south-america/

[@jetted_out]

gotta ask.. why law officials and goverment push it in the community. ask that question... c.i.a officials even admitting it. cut jobs and flood in the drugs

[@SaNiTyWoRd]

All races do not oppose Blacks. Lets not attribute the wrong doings of few (15%) to an entire race of people. For example just because George Zimmerman was racist does not mean the majority of all white-based-Hispanics oppose the black race in any form or kind. Today, 85% of black women go to the "Dominica Salon" (Hispanics) for hair. As you and I know, Hair is a key factor in race-discrpency ... ironically

[@FootPrintsUC]

Indeed! Its 2012 now. When will we awake frm the American Nightmare mythologized as a fantastical "Dream"," and build an American Vision that corrects this subterfuge?!?

[@earthie48johnson73]

I SO AGREE WITH MICHELLE, ITS WHY I BLAME BLACKS FOR ALLOWING OUR PEOPLE TO GET SUCKED UP INTO THIS DRUG DEVASTATION! FOR I CAME FROM A FAMILY OF 14, WITH ONE MOTHER, NO FATHER, AND NO WAY COULD WE EVER THINK ABOUT DRUGS ....... CIGARETTES, ALCOHOL, BUT NEVER THESE ADDICTIVE DRUGS! BLACK FAMILIES FELL DOWN INTO THE GUTTER WITH THESE DRUGS!

[@ufulubomani6869]

The sad truth is jobs were intentionally taken out of the black community and replaced with the influx of drugs as an economic base. Glad to hear that you and your family were able to bypass that trap but many simply fell victim.

[@crushsatan]

she killed it.

[@RozMW]

My problem with her (I went to see her live in Berkeley last year talking about this topic) is she doesn't have any SOLUTIONS to this problem. She doesn't have any definitive STEP we can take as a people, or as individuals to begin to solve this problem. "I" have some solutions, but who wants to hear ME talk about this issue?

[@roger8654]

All my white friends growing up in the suburbs sold drugs and used a lot of drugs.

[@slittlejohnjr]

Hope you have her book.

[@BuddhaRon108]

She has a very good voice. But I don't think this corrupt system can be fixed. I think the best strategy is to drop off the grid, stop complying with the schools/indoctrination stations, stop cooperating with the corporations, and organize in an alternative way. We spend 12 years of our lives getting trained in obedience, study John Taylor Gatto. I have taken my education into my own hands. I dropped out of the corrupt system in Norway. Now I'm making my own destiny. Check out my channel.

[@danielmyrtlebeach]

A profession is only good as the people that are in it and in this particular profession, criminal justice system ,there's so much room and opportunities for so much corruption 2 made, that directly and indirectly affect so many people.

[@Hispanosuiza1]

This woman is fighting the wrong battle, she would do more good if she dedicated herself to selling black people the idea that they should asume responsability for their lot in life... I'm tired of listening to black young men bragging about the six kids they have with five different "mamas" that can really "shake their bootys", etc. Show respect for your race by getting educated and by taking responsability for yourselves. This is just another.. "I be bad.. but It be you fault".. piece of bull.

[@SaNiTyWoRd]

Why are you quick to deem Blacks non-united? I never quit understood this ideology. Whites dis-own Irish, Hispanics dis-own Mexicans, and Blacks dis-own Haitians .... My argument is that Most races are somewhat not united due to ignorance in terms of their history. being non-united does not suggest Blacks are the race that is discriminated against more than any other. Some races are discriminated against more than others depending they type of discrimination. race, sex,..

[@3Fifs]

The craziest rap video you will see all year!

[@roger8654]

I don't think she's blaming anybody,I think she's saying the truth on how the establishment works, the problem is people of color fall for the trap.

[@7eyesopenwide168]

Too bad she still conjurs race.

[@anthonytaurus]

I don't blame the law. The law doesn't say, "target Blacks and Hispanics". It's the people, the police, that do the targeting. It's the general racial atmosphere that has always existed in this nation. I can't blame the War on Drugs on that. Even when there wasn't a war on drugs, there was always a war on Blacks and Hispanics. So, what happens if we legalize marijuana? Legalize all drugs? There would still be a focus on controlling and/or oppressing the Black and Hispanic communities.

[@danielmyrtlebeach]

Anthony Taurus though I agree with you that it's the people in the profession , not the criminal Justice per'se, if it all became legal there would be so much less opportunities for blacks to be targeted. Making it illegal should be done anyway. Morality shouldn't be policed.

[@FirebrandCentral1]

She is also very beautiful. : )

[@nkrrrrrr]

I really wanted to watch this but then i heard her shrieking voice.

[@blacknbougie8021]

and your on the wrong side of youtube.you're attempt to downgrade this woman has failed. you're thoughts are miniscules of NOTHINGNESS. next!!!